Curtain stretcher



D., SOLOMON CURTAIN 'STRE'I'CHER Feb. 19, 1924., 11,484,413

Filed Sept. 6. 1922 bod I u I Z7arai@%m0n 7;; 5

Patented F eb. 19, 1924.

DOROTHY SOLOMON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CURTAIN STRETOHER.

Application filed September 6, 1922. Serial No. 586,403.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DOROTHY SOLOMON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to curtain stretchers and has for its primary object to provide a device which may be readily adjusted so that curtains of various sizes can be thereby stretched and held in a taut condition while drying.

It is also one of the important objects of the invention to provide a stretcher frame consisting of a plurality of sections each composed of telescopically engaged parts, one of the parts having a series of spaced fixed pins and the other part a series of similarly spaced adjustable pins which may be disposed in position to receive the curtain in alignment with the fixed pins or moved to an inoperative position so that said pins will not interfere with the telescoping of the frame parts.

It is a further general object of my invention to provide a curtain stretcher as above characterized which is simple and inexpensive in its construction, as well as exceedingly strong and durable, and the several elements of which may be very compactly arranged when the device is not in use and stored in a relatively small space.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the improved ourtain stretcher and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein I have disclosed several simple and practical embodiments of the invention and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved curtain stretcher illustrating one means for mounting or supporting the same to sustain the curtain in an elevated position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view' Figure 3 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 8-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2,-

Figure 5 is a similar section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line 66 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective v1ew illustrating an alternative form of the inventlon.

In the drawing I have illustrated my improved curtain stretcher as consisting of a plurality of similar parts which are adapted to be secured in assembled relation to form a rectangular frame. Each of the frame parts consists of telescopically engaged sections 5 and 6, respectively. Each of these sections may be conveniently formed with a flat bottom from sheet metal stock. The section 5 is provided along its opposite longitudinal edges with the inwardly turned flanges 7 said flanges at one of their ends terminating in spaced relation to the end of the frame section, such projecting end portion 8 of the frame section having an opening therein to receive a threaded stud or bolt as will be later described. I

The flange 7 of the frame section 5 extending along the inner side thereof when the parts of the, frame are assembled, is provided with a plurality of equidistantly spaced fixed upstanding pins or studs 9 with which the edge of the curtain is adapted to be engaged. The other flange 7 is provided with suitable graduations indicated at 10, and opposite each of the graduation marks an opening 11 is formed through the body of the sheet metal plate.

The other frame section 6 is likewise pro vided at its opposite longitudinal edges with the inturned flanges 12 which are adapted to be slidingly engaged in the grooves of the section 5 formed by the flanges 7 thereon. The inner flange 12 of the frame section 6 is provided in its inwardly projecting portion with the spaced notches or recesses 13 to ac commodate the pins or studs 14, said pins being hingedly mounted as at 15 upon the underside of the flange. As seen in Figure 5 of the drawings, these hinged pins or studs may be moved to a vertical'position so that they project above the flange 12. When so arranged said pins are in substantial alignment with the flXed pins 9 of the frame section 5. When the frame section 6 is telescoped in the frame section 5, the pins 14 are swung inwardly and downwardly to the position seen in dotted lines in Figure 5 so that they will not interfere with such telescoping movement.

The other or outer flange 12'of the section 6 is likewise graduated as shown at 16 and opposite each graduation mark an opening 17 is formed in the body of the metal plate. It will be understood that the two sections 5 and 6 constitute one side of the stretcher frame" and after proper relative adjustment in accordance with the desired length 'or width of the 'frame, a bolt 18 is inserted through coinciding openings Hand 17 in the frame sections and a wing nut 19 engagedon" said bolt and adjusted into tight clampingenga'gement against the underside ofthe frame section 5.

Afterv each side member ofthe frame has been adjusted to the required length as above explained, theend portions 8 are arranged in'overlapping relation. When a lawn or grass plotis available upon which the stretcher frame may be placed, the side me1nbers' of the frame may be readily clamped together by inserting ordinary bolts through thecoinciding'openings in the end portions 8 of'the frame members and adjusting the clamping nuts thereon. lVhen the curtain is to be-dried in the house, however, the frame maybe' conveniently set up in the room by the useof the supporting legs 30, each of said legs having a stud bolt 21 fixed in its upper end adapted'to be engaged throughthe open ings of the end portions 80f theframe members. Suitable clamping nuts 22 are then adjusted upon the threaded ends of said bolts to rigidly secure the several parts of the frame in assembled relation. It will of cour'sealso beunderstood that in lieu of'the supporting legs a suitable easel of any de sired construction may be employed.

In Figure 7 of the drawing 1 have illustrated aslightly modified form of the device wherein the inwardly projecting portion of the inner fian e'12 of theframe section 6 may be omitted. A rod 23 is .mounted in suitable bearings 24: along the inner side of the vertical flange 12 at its juncture with the'body of the sheet metal plate and upon this rod the spaced wire pins 25 are hingedly engaged at one of their ends. Nhen said pins are disposed in the position seen in full lines in Figure 7, they are below the upper edge of the flange 12" so thatthe frame sectionv 6 can be readily moved into or out of the frame-section 5. After adjustment these pins 25 may be raised to a vertical position and the curtain engaged thereon. The pull of the curtain holds said pins closely against the inner side ofthe flange'12 which limits theirs'winging movement in one direction.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawjusted to a minimumlength of'two foot'up' to a maximum lengtho'f four feet; However, it will'of coursebe apparentthat if de-' sired, each of the-telescoping frame sections can be made of greater length so as to obtain a greater range of adjustment. When the stretcher is not in'use, theseveral frame sections may be disconnectedand arranged in very compact relation 'sothat the device can be stored away ina relatively small space.

InFigure 5 is shown one embodiment onan enlarged scale. In practice it is made much sm aller,"about the slze of an ordlnary pin-head.

It is clear that the embodiment shown 111' Figure 5, on asmaller scale, may be used in place of the pins shown intheembodiment of Figure 7. So, for instanceythe frame shown in Figure 1, which shows thestud embodiment, may be made up in the form of pins, like the embodiment shown in-Figure7.

I have shown and described several practical and satisfactory embodiments of the device, but it will nevertheless be under-. stood that'the stretcher might be produced in various other-alternative constructions. Aocord1ngly,I reserve the prlvllege'of resorting 'to all such legitimate changes "in the" form, proportion and relative arrangement as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed;

1 claim:

1. A curtain stretcher comprising frame members each consisting of two-flattelescoping sections of unequal'width, each section being provided with longitudinally eXtend-' ing lateral flanges having their ends spaced from the ends of said sections, the outer section being provided with a plurality of fixed curtain attaching pins, the inner sec 'tion having a plurality o'f'recesses'formed in one'of its flanges and a plurality of ourtain attaching pins hingedly connected to the fiangeofsaid section and'adapted to be moved within therecesses ofsaid fiangeint'o alignment with the fixed pins-of the outer section whenin use, or to be pressed inward to permitthesections to be telescoped to gether. v

2. A 'curtain s'treteher comprising frame members each consisting of two flat telescoping sections of unequal'width,each section from the ends of said sections, the outer section being provided with a plurality of 5 fixed curtain pins,

the inner section having a plurality of hinged attaching pins movable into a vertical po sition in line with the fixed pins of the outer section and adapted to be pressed inward to permit the sections to be telescoped together.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as under.

DOROTHY SOLOMON.

my invention, I have signed my name here- 

